As long as I can remember I have always been told that a female puppy or dog is the way to go. I was told that females are a lot sweeter than males, they did not have any bad habits, and they just made better family pets. While I was growing up, my family always picked a female and paid more for the dog. While looking at the litter I was always told, Make sure you pick a girl! It was not until I purchased a male that I realized the myth was TOTALLY WRONG. My family was very surprised when they saw the wonderful personality of the male Schnauzer.

From personal experience and from speaking with families that have purchased male puppies from me, I have found the following to be true: As far as physical differences go we all know the male / female anatomy is different. Usually males will be a little larger than the females, but in general they are usually just a little stouter and only slightly taller. However, this is not always true; our little T-cup males are much smaller than some of our females.

For the most part, you will find it difficult to tell the difference in size between the two without looking closely. However, if you neuter your male puppy before he reaches maturity (around 9 months old); he will not develop those bad traits that give the male dog such a bad rap. For instance, he will not feel the need to hike his leg, hump or mark his territory. In fact most all males when neutered as puppies will squat just like their opposites and never lift a leg. He also will not feel the need to chase females in heat while he is out for his daily walk. If a male pup is around other older males, he will often learn to lift his leg instead of squatting, and he will do this after he is neutered. This does not mean that he is un-potty trainable. It just means that he will hike, instead of squat. Believe it or not, a female puppy will actually hump more then a male puppy. Females also mark their territories just like males. This is actually a puppy thing early on; as some pups go through it and others do not. If your puppy does this, they will either stop on their own, or once they are neutered or spayed.

A female puppy when spayed will lose a lot of her bad traits too. Now as far as their attitudes go, both are very loving and always ready to please, just as a Schnauzer should be. After raising Miniature Schnauzers and having both males and females, I have found a vast difference in their demeanor. If I had to choose between the two, something which I hope never happens, I would pick a male dog every time. I have found that males are much more affectionate and loving. They are more outgoing and sure of themselves, always showing a sense of confidence. They show little moodiness and are less prone to emotional swings. A male dog is always eager to please his owner. He takes very quickly to children and is more accepting of other pets. You can rely on the male dog to be your best friend and loyal companion in any situation, and they will always be young at heart. Female dogs can be emotional and sulk if they don’t get their way. Males just let it go, and move on. A female will be playful as a puppy, but as she gets older she will tend to sit back and watch what is going on around her. The males on the other hand are more playful and tend to remain playful even in their elder years. Males love to be at the center of the action, and become a huge part of the family. The female is also the QUEEN. She can have mood swings where one minute she is just as sweet as can be right in the middle of all of the action, and the next minute a little grumpy and wanting to be left alone. There is a reason for this Queen attitude: In the dog pack makeup, females usually rule the roost, determine pecking order, and compete to maintain and/or alter that order. The females are, as a result, more independent, stubborn, and territorial than their male counterparts. They are much more intent upon exercising their dominance by participating in alpha behaviors such as humping. Most fights will usually break out between two females. Males, on the other hand, are usually more demanding of attention, and are very attached to people. They also tend to be more steadfast, reliable, and less moody. They are more out going, more accepting of other pets, and as I said, take more quickly to children. Most boys are easily motivated by food and praise. Sound familiar? Hence they are very easy to train. However, males can be more easily distracted during training, as males like to play. And no matter what age, he is more likely to act silly and more puppy-like, always wanting to play games. Boys are fun-loving until the day they die. Females tend to be more reserved or dignified as they age. Witness the human equivalent of the twinkling eyed Grandpa still playing catch at 70, while Grandma quietly observes from the porch!

A couple of other things to consider are the cost of neutering. The cost of neutering is usually lower than spaying because the surgery is usually considered to be an easier procedure with a quicker recovery time. Spaying a female is a little more extensive because they are removing the uterus, which is why the cost is higher. Also, the price is often lower for a male puppy compared to a female, because females are in more demand due to the misconception that they make better pets.

Either way you go, male or female, if it is a Schnauzer you can‘t go wrong. Just keep in mind every dog, male or female has their own personality and is unique in every way. The differences that you see should not be based on gender. The differences that you should be looking at should be based on the litter as a whole. When looking at the litter you may see one puppy in a litter that is more outgoing, the first one to check out a new situation, and the first one to figure things out. In the same litter you may see one pup that may be a bit more reserved, who tends to be more cautious when checking out a new situation. The breeder should be very helpful in helping you to understand the temperament of your future pup. I know the likes and dislikes of all of my dogs. Every one of my dogs has a different personality. Some may be very similar, but each one is unique. When we have a litter, I spend hours each day with the mother and her puppies. By the time they are ready to be sold, I have a pretty good idea of the differences in their temperaments.

We love every one of our Schnauzers and they are equally spoiled, although the males seem to enjoy the attention a little more in our Schnauzer home. Keep an open mind when selecting your puppy. Don’t close the door on a puppy because of preconceived notions of gender, because you may be missing out on the best companion that you could have ever hoped to find.